Cardioglossa melanogaster

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Cardioglossa melanogaster
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Arthroleptidae
Genus: Cardioglossa
Species:
C. melanogaster
Binomial name
Cardioglossa melanogaster
Amiet  [ fr ], 1972

Cardioglossa melanogaster is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the mountains of western Cameroon (Mount Manengouba, southernmost Bamileke Plateau, Mount Nlonako, Bamenda Highlands, Rumpi Hills) and eastern Nigeria (Obudu Plateau). Common name Amiet's long-fingered frog has been coined for it. [1] [2]

Contents

Description

Males measure 25–30 mm (1.0–1.2 in) and females 27–34 mm (1.1–1.3 in) in snout–vent length. [3] Males have extremely long third fingers and spines in the fingers and in the groin; females lack these characteristics. [4] The dorsum and flanks show distinctive tan and black patterning. The pupil is vertical and iris is gold. [5] The white line running under the tympanum continues beyond the eye. [6]

The tadpoles have a stream-adapted eel-like shape with long, muscular tails, narrow fins, and a long spiracle. The body is robust and elongated. The largest measured tadpole (Gosner stage 35) had a total length of 44 mm (1.7 in), most of which was tail (32 mm (1.3 in)). [7]

Habitat and conservation

Cardioglossa melanogaster occurs in montane forests, including areas with dense secondary growth. Its altitudinal range is 1,000–2,000 m (3,300–6,600 ft) above sea level. Breeding takes place in streams, along which the males call. [1] Tadpoles have been found in streams with very slow current within forest fragments and in degraded areas with farms nearby. During the day, the tadpoles were hiding under stones or dead leaves in the riverbed. [7]

Cardioglossa melanogaster is most abundant in the higher part of its altitudinal range. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by agricultural encroachment (including plantations of tree crops), expanding human settlements, and extraction of wood for firewood and building materials. It occurs in the Bafut-Ngemba Forest Reserve in Cameroon, although this reserve requires improved protection. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Cardioglossa</i> Genus of amphibians

Cardioglossa is a genus of frogs in the family Arthroleptidae known as long-fingered frogs. They are native to western and central Africa, with the greatest species richness in Cameroon. They are found near streams in lowland and mountain forests, but also occur in other highland habitats near streams at up to 2,700 m (8,900 ft) in altitude. These are small frogs with a snout–to-vent length of 2 to 4 cm (0.8–1.6 in). Some of the more localized species are threatened.

Arthroleptis adolfifriederici is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda. Several common names have been coined for it, including Rugege Forest squeaker, Rugegewald squeaker, Adolf Friedrich's squeaker frog, and Adolf's squeaker.

<i>Arthroleptis variabilis</i> Species of amphibian

Arthroleptis variabilis is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the lowlands of eastern Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Earlier records west from Nigeria refer to other species, including Arthroleptis krokosua described in 2008. Common names Buea screeching frog and variable squeaker frog have been coined for it.

Cardioglossa alsco is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to Cameroon and is known from its type locality on southern slopes of the Tschabal Mbabo Mountains as well as from the Gotel Mountains, both in the Adamawa Region. Its range might extend into Nigeria. The specific name alsco is a patronym for the American Linen Supply Company (ALSCO). The company's German branch supported the expedition during which this species was discovered.

Cardioglossa cyaneospila is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to the Albertine Rift area in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, southwestern Uganda, Rwanda, and southwestern Burundi. It was described in 1950 by Raymond Laurent based on specimens collected in 1949. No new records were published until 2011. Recent research has uncovered both old unpublished records and several new records, and the conservation status was changed from "data deficient" to "near threatened" in 2016. Common names Bururi long-fingered frog and Mukuzira long-fingered frog have been coined for this species.

Cardioglossa elegans is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in southwestern Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and south to central Gabon. Common name elegant long-fingered frog has been coined for it.

<i>Cardioglossa leucomystax</i> Species of frog

Cardioglossa leucomystax is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in large parts of Central Africa, extending into south-easternmost West Africa (Nigeria). The type locality is Cap Saint Jean in Equatorial Guinea. Populations from the Upper Guinean Forests of West Africa between Ghana and Sierra Leone previously allocated to this species were in 2008 described as a new species, Cardioglossa occidentalis. Common name silver long-fingered frog has been coined for Cardioglossa leucomystax.

Cardioglossa nigromaculata is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the south-western Cameroon and in the extreme southern Nigeria at low altitudes. Common name blackspotted long-fingered frog has been coined for it.

<i>Cardioglossa oreas</i> Species of frog

Cardioglossa oreas is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to Cameroon and known from the Western High Plateau between Mount Oku and the Bamboutos Mountains. Records from Mount Manengouba refer to Cardioglossa manengouba.

Cardioglossa pulchra is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the Cameroon Range in western Cameroon and in the Obudu Plateau in adjacent eastern Nigeria. Common name black long-fingered frog has been coined for it.

Cardioglossa schioetzi is a species of frogs in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in the mountains of Cameroon and eastern Nigeria. Specifically, it has been recorded from the Oshie-Obudu Range, Gotel Mountains, Mount Oku, and Mount Mbam. It is a generally poorly known species.

Cardioglossa trifasciata is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to western Cameroon and only known from the southern slopes of Mount Manengouba. Common name Nsoung long-fingered frog has been coined for it.

Cardioglossa venusta is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to the mountains of western Cameroon. Specifically, it is known from Mount Manengouba, the Bamileke Highlands, Mount Nlonako, and the Rumpi Hills. Common name highland long-fingered frog has been coined for it.

<i>Astylosternus fallax</i> Species of amphibian

Astylosternus fallax, also known as the Fopouanga night frog, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to southwestern Cameroon where it is known only from between Yabassi and Nkongsamba, from Mount Yuhan in the Korup National Park, and from Mount Nta Ali in the Mamfe basin.

Leptodactylodon bueanus is a species of frogs in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to western Cameroon and known from the eastern slope of Mount Cameroon and from Bimbia Hill near Limbe. It was originally described as a subspecies of Leptodactylodon albiventris and is also similar to Leptodactylodon stevarti.

<i>Leptopelis aubryi</i> Species of amphibian

Leptopelis aubryi, also known as the Aubry's tree frog and Gaboon forest treefrog, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is found in southeastern Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, western and northern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Angola.

Petropedetes palmipes is a species of frog in the family Petropedetidae. It is known from a few localities in southwestern Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and western Gabon. Common name Efulen water frog has been coined for it.

Petropedetes parkeri is a species of frog in the family Petropedetidae. It is found in western Cameroon and eastern Nigeria. Records from Equatorial Guinea and Gabon are uncertain, possibly belonging to Petropedetes euskircheni. P. parkeri is named after Hampton Wildman Parker, a British zoologist and herpetologist from the Natural History Museum, London. Common names Parker's water frog and Parker's torrent frog have been proposed for it.

Petropedetes perreti is a species of frog in the family Petropedetidae. It is endemic to Cameroon. It is known from the southern slopes of the Bamiléké Plateau, Mount Manengouba, and Mount Nlonako. Common name Perret's water frog has been coined for it.

Phrynobatrachus chukuchuku, the spiny puddle frog, is a species of frog in the family Phrynobatrachidae. They are endemic to Cameroon, and considered Critically Endangered.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2015). "Cardioglossa melanogaster". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015: e.T54405A16864192. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T54405A16864192.en . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Cardioglossa melanogaster Amiet, 1972". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  3. ↑ Hirschfeld, Mareike; Blackburn, David C.; Burger, Marius; Greenbaum, Eli; Zassi-Boulou, Ange-Ghislain & Rödel, Mark-Oliver (2015). "Two new species of long-fingered frogs of the genus Cardioglossa (Anura: Arthroleptidae) from Central African rainforests". African Journal of Herpetology. 64 (2): 81–102. doi:10.1080/21564574.2015.1052102. S2CID   86429301.
  4. ↑ Blackburn, David C. (2009). "Diversity and evolution of male secondary sexual characters in African squeakers and long-fingered frogs". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 96 (3): 553–573. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2008.01138.x .
  5. ↑ Lea, Jerry M.; Luiselli, Luca & Politano, Edoardo (2005). "Are there shifts in amphibian faunal composition in Nigerian landscapes undergoing long-term degradation? A case study from a montane environment". Revue d'Écologie. 60: 65–76. hdl:2042/55633.
  6. ↑ Blackburn, David C.; Kosuch, Joachim; Schmitz, Andreas; Burger, Marius; Wagner, Philipp; Gonwouo, L. Nono; Hillers, Annika & Rödel, Mark-Oliver (2008). "A new species of Cardioglossa (Anura: Artholeptidae) from the Upper Guinean forests of West Africa" (PDF). Copeia. 2008 (3): 603–612. doi:10.1643/CH-06-233. S2CID   53471472.
  7. 1 2 Hirschfeld, Mareike; Barej, Michael F.; Gonwouo, Nono L. & Rödel, Mark-Oliver (2012). "Tadpole descriptions of three Cardioglossa species from southwestern Cameroon (Amphibia: Anura: Arthroleptidae)". Salamandra. 48 (2): 147–156.
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